WEEK 3: May 17th to May 21st: What's on this week?

1. TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES Workshops:  Part II

Learn test-taking strategies focusing on IELTS and TOEFL! This workshop will be led by two of your Peer Leaders that have taken and excelled at these tests.

When:
I.  IELTS with Maya: 
1. Monday May 17th at 3pm in D309 (~45 min)

2. Tuesday May 25th at 11:30 in D308 (~45 min)--bring your lunch

II.  TOEFL with Mehdi G:

1.  Tuesday May 18th at 11:30 in D308 (~45 min)--bring your lunch

2.  Thursday May 27th at 11:30 in D308 (~45 min)--bring your lunch

2.  Digital Storytelling Workshop
Learn a very user-friendly software that will easily help you create your own DIGITAL STORY!!
When:  Monday, May 17, 3pm
Where:  D318 (Computer Lab)

EVEN BETTER, you can win a tuition refund by expressing yourself through a digital story!!  The School of ESL is having a Digital Storytelling Competition.  The prizes are:
1st Prize:  $200
2nd Prize:  $100
3rd Prize:  $50

Digital Story Competition!!
Digital Stories Due: end of Week 6, June 11th
Length of Video/Digital Story:  2-5 minutes

What is a Digital Story you ask?
1st you start with the art of storytelling. Then, you add the use of technology and your storytelling goes digital! There are many forms of digital storytelling that may combine any of the following elements: text, image, sound, voice and moving images, in a coherent story. The combination of these elements, each of which plays a unique role, that gives the digital story its power. Unfortunately, no amount of digital magic will turn a poor story into a good one, so the 'storywriting' or 'storyboarding' or 'narrating' process is a key element.   Come to the workshop and find out more!!  OR, if you missed the workshop, pop in and speak to Dorothy in D304,


Possible Topics for your Digital Story:

• Tell Your Audience A Story:  Tell your story as a new immigrant or international student OR a story about someone special, your school, or your community here in Toronto or abroad
• Teach Something:  Make an instructional or how-to-movie
• Environmental Concerns and Social Issues:  Share lenvironmental concerns and social issues important to you, which promote awareness and perhaps even public action.

3. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting.
Your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!
When: Tues(sched A) and Thurs(sched B), Weeks 2-7
Where: D333
Time: 12:00-1:30

4. SPEAK UP!

Want to improve your speaking? Improve your confidence in conversation using games and role plays . This 6-week workshop will focus on conversation and speaking skills in a FUN and active atmosphere!
When: Every WED AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKS 2-7
Where: D309
Time: 3:00 to 4:30pm

5.  NEW!!!  Essay Writing Study Group for Level 7 & 8 Students:
Engage in Peer to Peer learning to improve your academic writing skills!
When:  Tues and Thurs at 10am
Where:  Meet the Peer Leaders in Room D304A

6.  NEWSBLOG:  WRITE YOUR STORY AND SHARE WITH GBC
For those of you who want to express yourselves and share it with your GBC Peers ANd improve your writing/communication skills in the process:
Write a story or article for the Newsblog Club:
Need some inspiration??
Interested? Email Dorothy or drop by D304 to chat about it!

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing: 

• Write a restaurant review
• Write a human interest story
• Share your poetry or creative writing
• Share a favourite recipe
• Tell us about your favourite hangout in Toronto
• Write a movie review

Week 2: May 10th to 14th--Check out what's on this week!

1.  TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES Workshop
Part I
Learn test-taking strategies focusing on IELTS and TOEFL!  This workshop will be led by two of your Peer Leaders that have taken and excelled at these tests.
When: TODAY!  Monday, May 10th--Follow up workshops will be announced at today's meeting.
Where: D309
Time: 3:00 to 4:00pm.

2. LIBRARY ORIENTATION with Amber
When: Tues, May 11th and Thurs May 13th
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 11AM

3. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting.
Your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!
When: Tues(sched A) and Thurs(sched B), Weeks 2-7
Where: D333
Time: 12:00-1:30

4. MICROSOFT 2007 POWERPOINT workshop with Amber
When: Wednesday May 12th
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 3:00-4:30pm

5.  SPEAK UP!
 New opportunity starting THIS week!!
Want to improve your speaking?   Improve your confidence in conversation using games and role plays . This 6-week workshop will focus on conversation and speaking skills in a FUN and active atmosphere!
When: Every WED AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKS 2-7
Where:  D309
Time:  3:00 to 4:00pm

6.  Lunch and Learn Alumni Panel

Learn about the post-secondary experiences of GBC's ESL graduates

When:  Friday, May 14th
Where:  D309
Time: 12:40-1:20


Coming:  Digital Storytelling Workshop--weeks 2 and 3 Monday after school.  You can win a tuition refund by expressing yourself through a digital story!!  Details to come.  Email Dorothy if you are interested!

Newsblog Club:  do you want to improve your writing while expressing yourself to your peers?
Why not write an article?  Need some inspiration??
Interested?  Email Dorothy or drop by D304 to chat about it!



As always, your Peer Leaders are here to help you! Set up a study group and invite us to facilitate; drop by Tuesdays and Thursday and after school for one-on-one and small group tutoring. No need to sign up in advance--drop by D304A to meet us--our schedule is posted on the door!

Week 5: April 5th-9th. What's on this week??

TODAY!  MEETING FOR THE NEWSBLOG CLUB. 
Come to a very brief meeting in D306 at 3pm to discuss ideas for our next newsblog release.  The theme of articles in this paper will be Earth Day.  Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd all over the world.  Earth Week is held between April 16th to 25th.
More than 6 million Canadians join 500 million people in over 180 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues.  How will you celebrate?  Write an article, a poem, create a digital story, share your pictures and share your voice on gbcvoice.com on what you do to reduce your inpact on the environment!!

1. Tutoring in the ESL Library

Practice English! Improve your language skills!
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 12:30 to 1:30pm

2. Speaking Bootcamp Workshop--postponed until next Wednesday!!!
Learn effective conversation and public speaking skills in a fun atmosphere with your peers!
When: Wednesday
Where: D306
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
Public speaking is a skill and it can be learned!!  Come out and practice!

3. Speaking with Confidence workshop in the PAL Centre, Building E, room E139
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Where: PAL Centre, inside of the Lifeworks Centre, Room E139 (near Treats and Subway)
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Pre-Registration required.  Email Dorothy to reserve your spot as small is limited to 10 students!

4. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting.
Your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!
When: Tues(sched A) and Thurs(sched B)
Where: D333 on Tuesdays and D331 on Thursdays
Time: 12:00-1:30

5. Creative Writing Workshop--no workshop this week--workshop resumes next week!!
When: Mondays (March 29th, April 12th, April 19th)
Where: D301
Time: 3:45-4:30
Pre-Registration required. This Workshop is FULL!

Coming up next week:  Lunch and Learn on Friday, April 16th.  Details to follow from your Peer Liaisons.  This session will focus on free courses being offered to Newcomers with training or experience in Business, Nursing, Health Sciences and Construction.  Stay Tuned For Details!!

Welcome to Week 4 at George Brown's School of ESL! Check out what's on this week:

1. Tutoring in the ESL Library
Practice English!  Improve your language skills!
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 12:30 to 1:30pm

2. Speaking Bootcamp Workshop
Learn effective conversation and public speaking skills in a fun atmosphere with your peers!
When: Wednesday
Where: D306
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
Public speaking is a skill and it can be learned!!

3. Speaking with Confidence workshop in the PAL Centre, Building E, room E139
When:  Tuesdays and Thursdays
Where:  PAL Centre, inside of the Lifeworks Centre, Room E139 (near Treats and Subway)
Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Pre-Registration required.
Tuesday's workshop is FULL!  A couple of spots remain on Thursday--email Dorothy to reserve your spot

4. Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop

Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase in a small group setting.
Your Peer Leaders are there to faciliate!
When: Tues(sched A) and Thurs(sched B)
Where: D333 on Tuesdays and D331 on Thursdays
Time: 12:00-1:30
5.  Creative Writing Workshop
When: Mondays (March 29th, April 12th, April 19th)
Where:  D301
Time:  3:45-4:30
Pre-Registration required.  This Workshop is FULL!

Also:  Looking for submissions for our next ESL newsblog (gbcvoice.com)--get published, practice your writing and/or creative skills.  THEME:  THINK GREEN--in honour of Earth Month!!  You may choose to submit something on this theme or if you have something else you've been "itching to write about" just contact Dorothy or Adeesha!  Looking forward to hearing from you!!

ENJOY YOUR LONG WEEKEND!! FRIDAY IS A HOLIDAY!!

GBC Voice is online!!

Check out the new student newspaper at GBC: GBC Voice!
If you are interested in submitting to the blog, drop by D304 or contact Adeesha or Dorothy.

Week 4, February 1st to 5th.

What's on this week in GBC's ESL Program:  LOTS!!!  Take advantage of all that is offered!


1. TODAY, February 1st, 2010

Orientation to GBC's online library resources and effective research skills.
Where:  ESL Library, D315
Time:  3:00pm

Presented by Bill McAskill, Lead Research Librarian at GBC's Casa Loma Campus

2. Microsoft Powerpoint 2007 Workshop with Amber

When: Tuesday, February 2nd & and Thursday, February 4th.
Where: D315 ESL Library
Time: 3:00pm

3. Speaking Bootcamp Workshop
Learn effective conversation and public speaking skills in a fun atmosphere with your peers!
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays
(4-week workshop:  1st workshop:  Feb 2, 4; 2nd workshop: Feb 9, 11; 3rd workshop: Feb 16, 18; 4th workshop: Feb 23, 25)
Where: D306
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
Public speaking is a skill and it can be learned!!

4.  Newsblog Club: Digital Storytelling Workshop 
Learn a very simple way to create a digital presentation using pictures, music, your voice and text!
When: Wednesday, February 3rd
Where: D318 (Computer Lab)
Time: 3:05 to 4:30pm
New members welcome!  Contribute to our online Blog!

5.  Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop
Practice essential skills of Summary and Paraphrase (spoken and written)in a small group setting
When: Weekly, every Tuesday(sched A) and Thursday (sched B)
Time:  12:00-1:30
Where: D333

6. Tutoring in the ESL Library
Improve your speaking skills!
Where: D315 ESL Library
When and Time: Every Tues and Thurs from 12:30 to 1:30

7.  NEW! 
Lunch and Learn with the Advisors
Meet with Tracy and Joseph from Advising who will be more than happy to answer your questions about what services they offer and programs at the college.

Where: D309

When:  Friday, February 5th

Time: 12:40

Week 3, January 25th to 29th: What's on this Week in the ESL Program

1. Microsoft Word 2007 Workshop with Amber.
When:  Tuesday, January 26th and Thursday, January 28th
Where: D315 ESL Library.
Time: 3:00pm

2. Newsblog Club: come out to our second meeting!!
When: Wednesday, January 20th Where: D306
Time:  3 to 4pm
New members welcome!



3.Summarizing and Paraphrasing Workshop, Schedule B Students
(Schedule A workshop next week)
When:  12:00-1:30
Where:  D333

4. Tutoring in the ESL Library
Where:  D315 ESL Library
When and Time: Every Tues and Thurs from 12:30 to 1:30

What's on This Week in ESL?

1. Library Orientation with Amber: Tuesday, January 19th and Thursday, January 21st. Where: D315 ESL Library. When: 11:45-12:00 pm




2. Newspaper/Newsblog Club: come out and share your ideas on how to make this happen!! When: Wednesday, January 20th from 3 to 4pm. Where: D306.

3.Lunch and Learn: Learn about Effective Learning Strategies and Learning Styles on Study Groups. When: Friday, January 22nd at 12:40pm. Where: D309.


4. Tutoring in the ESL Library, D315 Every Tues and Thurs from 12:30 to 1:30